The Annual ODA Lecture took place on Thursday 15 November 2018 in the Samuel Roberts Lecture Theatre at the Dynevor Centre for Art, Design and Media, University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

The lecture was given by Lord Anderson of Swansea, Member of Parliament for Swansea East from 1974 to 2005.

Donald Anderson enjoyed a distinguished career and was one of the longest-serving MPs in recent times; he remains active in the House of Lords and is a Member of the Council of Europe Assembly.

During his career, Donald was a Lecturer at Swansea University, practised as a Barrister at the Inner Temple from 1969-1983 and spent 4 years in the Diplomatic Service.

The title of the lecture was “The Wanderings of a Swansea Boy” and Donald reflected humorously on some of the characters he had met in the local area and some of the gaffes he felt he had committed during his career both in Swansea and further afield.

The lecture coincided with the Brexit fever gripping Parliament and Lord Anderson was able to provide his unique perspective on politics and foreign affairs during an extended Question and Answer session.

Earlier in the day, the ODA Education Awards were presented to three students of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David by current President, Keith Evans.

The special qualities of each of these promising and deserving students were highlighted by tutors from their respective departments and details were also given of the hurdles each had overcome in pursuing their studies.

It was also announced by Prof. Ian Walsh that a new Postgraduate Award was under consideration for future years.